OTB Play – Becoming a Chess Master

Lessons from my up and down tournament

15th August 20175th September 2017 Becoming a Chess Master chess improvement plan, chess study plan, OTB Play

Following a recent up and down tournament, I reviewed my play and decided to make some adjustments to my study plan. Here is what I learned in my review. In a later post I will show how I …

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An up and down tournament

12th August 20175th September 2017 Becoming a Chess Master chess improvement plan, OTB Play

At a recent tournament, I played in two sections; U140 (1750) and U160 (1900). There were five rounds in each section. In one I scored 1.5/5 and in the other 2.5/5. With my rating of 121 (1608) you might think …

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June 2017 ECF grades

9th August 20175th September 2017 Becoming a Chess Master chess improvement plan, OTB Play

A week or two ago, the ECF published the June 2017 month end grading list. For some reason they still only update gradings twice a year, despite the technology being available to do it almost by the day. They certainly …

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Estimating your Elo rating

6th May 20175th September 2017 Becoming a Chess Master OTB Play

If you play regular, long time control, rated, over the board (OTB) chess games, you will have a fair idea of your rating, or playing strength. I play around 50 OTB games a year, so I can place some worth …

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Latest ECF Ratings

5th February 20175th September 2017 Becoming a Chess Master OTB Play

The ECF has finally published the 2016 year-end ratings. For those who don’t know, unlike the USCF or FIDE, who update ratings very regularly, the ECF updates official ratings only every six months.

I am very glad to report that …

Blogpost Study Plan

Review – 2016

1st January 20175th September 2017 Becoming a Chess Master chess improvement plan, chess study plan, OTB Play

If I had to sum up the calendar year 2016, I would say it was a year of distilling my study plan and approach, and remembering there is more to life than chess.

Here is a quick run-through of where …

Blogpost Study Plan

Review – November 2016

7th December 20165th September 2017 Becoming a Chess Master chess improvement plan, chess study plan, OTB Play

From a chess point of view, October was a non-event. I was away on holiday for two weeks, had visitors for a few days and spent a lot of time on work (a few big tasks all delivering at the …

Blogpost Study Plan

Review – September 2016 – Tactics, tactics, tactics

30th September 20165th September 2017 Becoming a Chess Master chess improvement plan, chess study plan, OTB Play, visualisation

I am glad to report that I have continued to stick to the undertaking I made at the end of July to not change my study plan for at least the rest of 2016.

This means that I do a …

Blogpost Study Plan

Review – May 2016

2nd June 20165th September 2017 Becoming a Chess Master chess improvement plan, chess study plan, OTB Play

I somehow missed out giving an update at the end of April, so this will be a double.

I mentioned in February and March that I had simplified my study plan. In April and May I made further refinements and …

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Chess Sets

24th May 20165th September 2017 Becoming a Chess Master OTB Play

Through an online training group I belong to, I discovered that in the USA players have to take their own chess equipment to tournaments. This is different from the UK, where clubs or congress organisers supply equipment.

I don’t like …

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